Mar 28, 2014

Necker Island: Sir Richard Branson was challenged by friend and champion kitesurfer Susi Mai to take kitesurfing to a whole new level.

From his home on Necker Island, the veteran kitesurfer and Mai set out to see how many people they could get up on a kite board at one time.

After successfully equalling the current GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for three people riding a kitesurf board, Richard and Susi set their sights on adding a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title to his extraordinary list of record achievements. These include leading 318 kitesurfers to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest parade of kite surfers, in September 2013.

Recruiting from the team on Necker Island, Richard and friends achieved “four up” on a kiteboard at the one time, setting a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the "Most people riding a kitesurf board".

Thoughts are already racing about getting a bigger board and going for five up.

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said “We enjoy working with Richard on his quests to add further records to his already growing list and we’re delighted to announce that he has achieved another one! His passion for kitesurfing as well as oceanic related records is truly inspiring and we eagerly await what he has planned for the future”.

What challenges are there left out there for Richard and team to attempt?

Richard Branson Record Breaking Fast Facts· In 1987 Richard Branson set the record for the first hot air balloon to cross the Atlantic· In 1991 Richard Branson was in the first balloon to cross the Pacific from Japan to Arctic Canada· From 1995 to 1998, Sir Richard, Per Lindstrand and Steve Fossett made attempts to circumnavigate the globe by balloon· In 2012 Branson was the oldest person to kitesurf across the English Channel

· In 2013, Branson led the largest number of kitesurfers ever to complete a one-mile course

· In 2014 Branson broke the record for the ‘most people riding a kitesurf board’

· Richard Branson has the most followers on LinkedIn

Kitesurfing World Records Fast Facts· “Largest parade of kite surfers”The largest parade of kitesurfers involved 318 participants covering a one-mile (1.6 km) course along the coast of Hayling Island in Hampshire, UK, on 15 September 2013. The Virgin Kitesurfing Armada was organized to raise funds for Snow-Camp, the RNLI and Virgin Unite, and leading the parade was Sir Richard Branson (UK).· “Longest distance kite surfing in 24 hours”The longest distance kitesurfing in 24 hours is 645.6 km (401.2 miles) and was achieved by Rimas Kinka (Lithuania), off the coast of Islamorada, Florida, USA, on 26 February 2012.· “Greatest distance strapless kitesurfing in 6 hours”The greatest distance strapless kitesurfing in 6 hours is 169 km (105 miles) and was achieved by Petr Pechacek (Czech Republic) at Fisherman Hut in Malmook, Aruba, on 3 November 2012.· “Youngest kite surfing world champion (female)”The youngest kitesurfing world champion (female) is Gisela Pulido (b.14 January 1994, Spain) who won her first Kiteboard Pro World Tour (KPWT) world championship, on 4 November 2004 aged 10 years and 294 days. She also won her first Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA) championship on 26 August 2007 aged 13 years 224 days.